# A Treat for Mosquitoes

## Overview

This chapter educates students about diseases spread by mosquitoes, particularly malaria and anaemia, how these are detected through blood tests, how mosquitoes breed, and how we can prevent mosquito-borne diseases. It also introduces the story of Ronald Ross, who discovered the link between mosquitoes and malaria.

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## Key Topics Covered

### 1. Understanding Malaria through Rajat’s Illness

* Rajat had malaria, confirmed by a **blood test**.
* He explained that malaria is caused by a **mosquito bite**.
* Only **female Anopheles mosquitoes** spread malaria.
* Not all mosquito bites cause malaria.

### 2. The Role of Blood Tests

* Blood is collected and tested under a microscope.
* **Malarial parasites** can be seen in the blood sample.
* A sample report shows diagnosis terms like “Malarial Parasite Found in Blood Sample”.

### 3. Anaemia and Haemoglobin

* Aarti had **anaemia**, detected through a blood test showing **low haemoglobin**.
* Haemoglobin is essential for carrying oxygen in the blood.
* Iron-rich foods like jaggery, amla, and green leafy vegetables help improve haemoglobin levels.
* Aarti’s report showed her haemoglobin improved from **8 gm/dl to 10.5 gm/dl**.
* A newspaper report shared that many children in Delhi suffer from anaemia, which affects their health and learning ability.

### 4. Mosquito Breeding and Prevention

* Mosquitoes lay **eggs in stagnant water**, and **larvae** (baby mosquitoes) hatch there.
* Larvae are thread-like creatures swimming in water.
* Preventing water stagnation is essential to stop breeding.
* A **poster campaign** warned against collecting water and advised:

* Keep tanks, pots, and coolers clean.
* Dry out water every week.
* Use mosquito nets and spray kerosene on collected water.

### 5. Diseases Spread by Flies

* Flies can spread stomach-related diseases even though they don’t bite.
* They sit on dirty things and contaminate food.

### 6. Observations and Surveys

* Students conducted surveys around school and homes to find:

* Stagnant water in pots, tanks, coolers, and open areas.
* Algae and plants in water bodies.
* Presence of larvae and mosquito breeding.
* Responsibility for cleanliness lies with community members and local authorities.

### 7. The Story of Ronald Ross

* Ronald Ross was a scientist who discovered that **mosquitoes transmit malaria**.
* He dissected mosquitoes and observed the same **germs in mosquitoes** that were found in malaria patients.
* His experiments took place in a hospital in Secunderabad.
* He was awarded the **Nobel Prize in 1902** for his discovery.

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## New Terms and Simple Definitions

| Term | Simple Definition |
| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Malaria | A disease spread by mosquitoes causing fever and chills. |
| Anaemia | A condition where the body has less haemoglobin, making a person weak or tired. |
| Haemoglobin | A substance in blood that carries oxygen. |
| Larvae | Baby mosquitoes that live in water before becoming adults. |
| Anopheles | A type of female mosquito that spreads malaria. |
| Pathologist | A doctor who checks body samples to find diseases. |
| Algae | Green plants that grow in or around water. |
| Microscope | A tool that helps see very tiny things like germs. |
| Stagnant Water | Water that is still and not flowing — where mosquitoes can breed. |
| Nobel Prize | A famous award given for great discoveries or work. |

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## Practice Questions

### Easy (3)

1. **What is malaria and how is it spread?**
*Malaria is a disease spread by female Anopheles mosquitoes when they bite people.*

2. **What is the name of the test done to detect malaria?**
*Blood test.*

3. **Which food helps in increasing haemoglobin?**
*Green leafy vegetables, jaggery, and amla.*

### Medium (2)

4. **Why should water not be allowed to collect around houses?**
*Because mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant water, leading to diseases like malaria.*

5. **How did Ronald Ross prove that mosquitoes spread malaria?**
*He observed malarial germs in the stomach of mosquitoes that bit malaria patients.*

### Difficult (3)

6. **How does a microscope help in diagnosing malaria?**
*It magnifies the blood so that germs (malarial parasites) can be seen clearly.*

7. **What are larvae and how can they be destroyed?**
*Larvae are baby mosquitoes. They can be destroyed by not letting water collect or by putting oil/fish in water.*

8. **Why is anaemia harmful for children in school?**
*It makes them tired, affects their growth and energy, and reduces their ability to study.*

### Very Difficult (2)

9. **How does a fly spread diseases even without biting?**
*Flies sit on dirty things and then contaminate food, spreading stomach infections.*

10. **What steps can a community take to stop mosquito breeding?**
*Clean water tanks, don’t let water collect, use kerosene, spread awareness through posters, and report problems to local authorities.*

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